Astros’ $2.6 million man Ovando targeted for Greeneville

Seventeen-year-old Astros outfield prospect Ariel Ovando, who was signed for the biggest bonus in club history last year, is being targeted for rookie-level Greeneville when the short-season club opens.

Ovando, a 6-4 native of the Dominican Republic who was the centerpiece of the Astros’ effort to revitalize their Latin American pipeline, has spent the spring at extended spring training in Kissimmee, Fla. There was no thought given to putting him at a full-season affiliate in his first exposure to minor league baseball.

The Astros are likely to pick Greeneville over the lower-level Gulf Coast League team, director of player development Fred Nelson confirmed.

The Greeneville Astros will open their Appalachian League season June 21 with many players coming up from extended spring training to join the middle tier of draft picks. The most experienced players will mostly start at short-season Class A Tri-City and the most raw likely in the Gulf Coast League at the Florida spring training complexes.